Jail-bunk.



nm NK I mw WB 0 DE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DOWLING, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. ASSIGNOR TO MESKER & BROTHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

JAlL-BUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

To @ZZ wir/01m it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DowLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Jail-Bunks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a prisoners bunk or cot which ordinarily consists of an angleiron frame having its side members connected to each other at the top by flat bars or slats which intersect each other latticewise, the whole being hinged at one side to the wall of the jail-cell and adapted to be turned up against the wall when not in use. A bunk of this construction is found in practice to be easily broken or bent, expensive to make, and unsanitary, owing to the lodgment of vermin between the slats and difficulty in removing the same therefrom. It is also objectionable inasmuch that a slat can be removed and used by the prisoner as a weapon.

My invention has for its object to provide a light, rigid, durable, and sanitary bunk of simple and inexpensive construction that cannot be taken apart.

It consists in features of novelty as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is an end view of my improved jailbunk hinged to the wall of the cell (broken away) and held in the horizontal position ready for use Fig. 2, a top plan view of the bunk detached; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section thereof on line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a top plan view, to enlarged scale, of one of the hinge-corner portions of the bunk; and Fig. 5, a similar view of an outer corner thereof.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, a represents my improved jail bunk or cot, which consists of a rectangular-shaped plate l, composed of rolled steel, iron, or other suitable metal of suitable length and width and of sufficient thickness to insure its rigidity under ordinary usage, the top surface of the plate l constituting the bunk proper. The plate l is formed at each side and end, preferably, with a depending flange 2 and 2, respectively, integral with the plate l, the side flanges 2 being turned inward at right angles at the ends or corners of the plate 1 and overlapping the corresponding inner sides of the end flanges 2 to which they are fixed by rivets 3, thereby forming a double thickness of the metal thereat through which at and parallel to, as shown, or in alinement with each corner of the plate 1 on one side thereof, projects outwardly a hinge-pin 4, having a flat shank 4, which is fixed to the inside of the side flange 2 by rivets 5, as shown, or, if desired, the end flanges 2 and overlapping end portions of the side flanges 2 may be omitted; but I prefer to use the same in combination with the side flanges 2, as described. Similarly, through the double thickness of the flanges 2, adjacent to each corner of the plate l at its opposite side, projects outwardly a pin 6, having a flat shank 6', which is fixed to the corresponding side flange 2 by rivets 7 for the purpose hereinafter referred to. Through the plate l are preferably formed openings 8, which in the present case are circular and spaced apart, as shown; but the openings 8 may be otherwise shaped and arranged or omitted, as found most desirable in practice.

The bunk a, constructed as described, is hinged by its pins 4 to brackets 9, fixed to the wall 10 of the cell b, (see Fig. 1,) the bunk a being held in the horizontal position when in use by chains or cords 11, which are hitched at one end, respectively, onto the pins 6 at the outer corners of the bunk a and at their other end to eyes (brackets or otherwise) 12, fixed to the wall 10 above the brackets 9. When not in use, the bunk a is thrown upward on its hinges 4 against the wall 10, as indicated by the dotted lines, and held in that position by a catch 13 in the usual manner.

The advantages of my invention are that by making the bunk a, in one piece throughout with stilfening members on its under side it is rendered stronger and more rigid than when made up of separate pieces fastened together, so that when subjected to rough usage, as is frequently the case, it maintains its shape and stability, and the prisoner is unable to separate and use any part of the bunk as a weapon. Moreover, by affording no lodgment for vermin the sanitary condition of the prisoner and cell is improved.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A j ail-bunk, consisting of a metallic plate having at each side and. end a depending flange integral therewith, the end portions of each side flange overlapping the correspond- IOO ing end flanges for forming a double thickness of metal at each corner of the bunk, means for iXing the said portions to the end flanges7 pins projecting outwardly through the said portions and the end flanges respectively, and means for fixing the pins to the side flanges, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAN/,l DOVVLING.

Witnesses:

MARY D. WHrTcoMB, EDWARD 'W. FURRELL. 

